Monthly Archives: January 2016

Do you ever wonder how we’ll live in the future? Humanity is at a transition point, and things are changing fast. It’s up to us to decide what kind of a world we want to create, and make the necessary changes. What kinds of changes do you think we’ll make? My guess is that we’ll reinvent ourselves and our lifestyles in ways that will bring us more meaning, fulfillment and enjoyment. Maybe the sensory overload, financial struggles, political corruption and environmental destruction of the…..

It’s tricky trying to figure out what to invest in, isn’t it? Just because something’s passe, doesn’t make it a bad investment, does it? What about stones? Who decided to end the Stone Age anyways? There are still lots of rocks — you can see them all over the place! Just because we’re destroying the planet with oil and gas, the price of oil is rock bottom and everyone’s adopting clean technology doesn’t necessarily make oil and gas a bad investment,…..

Decades ago, when I first realized that life on our planet was in danger of being destroyed, my first emotional response was grief for the arts and culture that would be lost forever. Then I felt ashamed that my first sorrow would be for something as human centred as this, and not for other species. In retrospect, I think it’s natural to care most for humanity’s cultural treasures since they’re what we understand. They represent the pinnacle of our self expression, and…..

When you read fiction or watch movies, do you find the characters hard to relate to sometimes? Are their lifestyles so much different from yours that you don’t feel represented? That’s how I often feel, and it’s one of the reasons the characters in my novel are the way they are. They remind me of myself and other people I know. We’re not particularly wealthy, we’re concerned about social and environmental issues and we value community. In real life there…..

Yes, those were the words I saw on the CBC online news this morning, and I’d hoped I’d gotten the meaning wrong. But no, it was what I’d feared: David Bowie dead at 69. His birthday was January 8th, and I was surprised to learn that he was a Capricorn, and was quickly reprimanded by a Capricorn Facebook friend for my surprise. David Bowie’s Aquarius rising and Moon in Leo, and who knows what other astrological aspects, made for a very colourful Capricorn. Another…..

There’s a new program on Kootenay Co-op Radio that I’d like to bring to your attention. It’s called Climate of Change and each episode explores a different climate change related theme. There are a lot of things I love about this program. The pace and the music keep it interesting and upbeat. It’s suitable for people who have recently become aware of climate change, but nuanced enough to engage long time climate activists. The show features interviews with environmental heavy weights like Naomi Klein, Avi…..

One of the best parts of publishing my first novel has been the opportunity to give back. The novel I wrote addresses environmental issues, so I donate a portion of my book sale revenues to is a group called Pull Together, which is made up of seven First Nations who are challenging the Enbridge Pipeline in court. Here’s an excerpt from their website: After the approval of Northern Gateway in June 2014, community groups in Smithers and Terrace hosted small…..

If you pay attention to environmental issues, you know that collectively our backs are against the wall. If you don’t pay attention to these issues, please take our word for it. It’s time to make big — and I mean BIG — changes if humanity is going to survive this crisis. To put the kinds of changes we need to make into perspective we need to establish a new kind of hierarchy that puts natural systems on top. All of life…..